Knockdown boat.



T, E. McDERMOTT. Y

KNOCKDOWN BOAT.

APPUCATION FILED JAN. 9, I915.

Patented Abr. 25,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

IN VEN 70F? WW w. WWW

I '19. Patented Apr. 25,1916.

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KNOCKDOWN BOAT.

APPLICATION'HLED JAN.9.1915.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 7 T. E. McDERMOTT.

KNOCKDOWN BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1915.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

4 SHEETS--SHEET 4- W I TIN/E5565 5) [1/5 147' TOR/VEYS THB COLUMBIA PLANnnnAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. n. c

THOMAS E. MCDERMOTT, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

KNOOKDOWN BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

Application filed January 9, 1915. Serial No. 1,341.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, THOMAS E. MCD R- MoTr, citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide a simple, light and highly serviceable knockdown boat, that can be closely packed together and easily carried, and is especially adapted for use by hunters, fishermen and campers.

To the above ends, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved knock-down boat, set up; Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 with the exception that the cover of the boat is removed; Fig. 3 is a view of the cover, removed from the boat, showing one of the gunwale rods partly removed from the cover, some parts being broken away and some of the exposed parts being shown in section; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section, taken on the line 22* 00* of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, some parts broken away; Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 00 m of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section, taken on the line as m of Fig. 2, on an en larged scale; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the keel, bottom boards and transverse ribs, assembled; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the longitudinal ribs and their tie straps in position to be rolled, said ribs being moved endwise on said tie straps so that their ends come within a space not longer than the longest ribs; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the right hand end of the keel, with reference to Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the intermediate portions of the keel, bottom boards and one of the transverse ribs, said rib being indicated by means of broken lines; Fig. 11 is a detail view, principally in trans verse vertical section, taken on the line as 00 of Fig. 7; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, with some parts sectioned on the-line m m of Fig. 7, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 13 is a detail view in section, taken on the line c0 r of Fig. 8, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 14 is a detail view artly in elevation and partly in section taken on the line a? 02 7* of Fig. 7, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 15 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in transverse vertical section, taken on the line r 00 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 16 is a detail view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, taken on the irregular line 122 w of F ig. 15; Fig. 17 is a modification of the tie strap shown in Figs. 15 and 16; and Fig. 18 is a modification of the holding loops shown in Fig. 14:.

The improved knock-down boat is shown in the drawings in the form of a canoe. The keel, transverse ribs, longitudinal ribs and cover of the boat are indicated, respectively, by the numerals 1 to 41, inclusive. As shown, the keel 1 is transversely divided at its longitudinal center so that the same may be folded for convenience in packing the same. Secured to each side of each section of the keel 1, at the inner end portion thereof, is a pair of metallic channel pieces 5. These channel pieces 5 are spaced longitudinally on the keel 1 and rigidly secured thereto by rivets 6, passed horizontally and transversely through said keel and through the bottoms of said channel pieces. Detachably and removably seated in the channel pieces 5 are bottom boards 7, which extend on both sides of the joint of the keel 1 and rigidly connect the two sections thereof.

The transverse ribs 2, as shown, two in number, are seated in transverse notches 8,

against lateral movement on the keel 1 and against angular twisting movement with respect thereto. Thumb nut-equipped bolts 9, passed through alined perforations in the transverse ribs 2 and bottom boards 7, rigidly and detachably secure the keel sections, transverse ribs and bottom boards assembled, as best shown in Fig. 7

Both the keel 1 and transverse ribs 2 are of rigid structure, while the longitudinal ribs 3, to give lightness and buoyancy to the boat, are hollow, flexible rods, preferably cellular in form. As shown, bamboo rods are preferably used to give this lightness and cellularform to the longitudinal ribs. A pair of tie straps 1O detachably and removably secure the longitudinal ribs 3 to the transverse ribs 2. Holding clips 11, in the form of spring prongs, are provided for detachably securing the longitudinal ribs3 to the tie straps 10. These holding clips 11 are secured to the tie straps 10 by rivets and hold the said longitudinal ribs 3 laterally spaced one from the other, but with freedom for endwise sliding movement therein. In some instances it might be desirable to secure the longitudinal ribs 3 to the tie straps 10 by forming in said tie straps loops 12, through which said ribs are telescoped, as shown in Fig. 18, in place of the holding loops 11. The ends of the tie straps 10 are notched and have secured in the prongs thereof transverse pins 13, by which said tie straps are detachably and removably secured over the outer longitudinal edge of the transverse ribs 2. The right hand end of each transverse rib 2, with respect to Figs. 5 and 6, is bifurcated to receive one of the pins 13 of the respective tie strap 10. The other of said pins 13 is secured to the left hand end of its respective rib 2 by a buckle-equipped strap 1 1, permanently secured to said rib. Similar straps 14 are also secured to the other ends of said ribs 2, the purpose of which will presently appear.

Fig. 8 shows the longitudinal ribs 3 spread out in a position to be applied to the keel and transverse ribs or rolled up. It will be noted that the ribs 3 are moved end- Wise on the tie straps 10 so that their ends come within a space not longer than the longest ribs, and that they are progressively longer from the keel outward. In applying the longitudinal ribs 3 to the assembled keel and transverse ribs, the tie straps 10 are first secured to the transverse ribs 2 in a manner previously described. The longitudinal ribs 3 are then drawn endwise through the loops 11, in pairs, one on each side of the keel 1, alternately toward the ends of said keel. In this position of the ribs 3, the outer ends of each pair are bent laterally inward toward the keel 1 and anchored to opposite sides of said keel by holding loops 15. These loops 15 are secured by rivets, or otherwise, to the keel 1 and are preferably of the same form as the holding loops 11. In Fig. 18 are shown screw eyes 16 as substitutes for the holding loops 15. In the operative positions of the longitudinal ribs 3, the inner ends of succeeding pairs of said ribs are flush with alternate tie straps l0, and the outer ends thereof are anchored, as previously described, in the holding loops 15. Thus, the entire number of the ribs 3 extend between the two tie straps 10, parallel to the keel 1, in comparatively close arrangement, while only one-half of said number extend beyond said tie straps toward each end of the boat. By this arrangement of the ribs 3 the portions thereof between the tie straps 10 afford a comparatively solid bottom for the boat. In securing the outer ends of the longitudinal ribs 3 to the keel 1, the inner, or short, pairs of said ribs are first bent toward the keel -1 and forced laterally between the prongs of the respective holding loops 15, which secure the same to the keel. The next shortest pairs of ribs are secured to the keel in like manner, and so on until all of the longitudinal ribs have been anchored to the keel 1. In securing the longitudinal ribs 3 to the screw eyes 16, it is necessary to move the same endwise into said screw eyes.

The cover 1 is cut to the proper shape from canvas, or other suitable material, and treated in any suitable manner to make the same waterproof. Relatively wide hems are formed in the longitudinal edges of the cover 4 to detachably receive and hold gunwale rods 17. As shown, these gunwale rods 17 are in two sections, detachably connected by ferrules 18, telescoped over the abutting ends of the gunwale rod sections. The hems of the cover 4: in the vicinity of the ferrules 18 are notched at 19 to permit the gunwale rod sections 17 to be telescoped into said hems or removed therefrom, and the ferrules operated to connect and. disconnect said sections 17 To detachably secure the cover 4 over the keel and ribs, a pocket 20 is formed in one end thereof to receive one end of the keel 1, and to the other end of said cover is secured a strap 21, adapted to be passed over the other end of said keel and attached thereto by a buckle 22, permanently secured to said keel. The longitudinal edges of the cover 1 have cut therein slits 23, through which the buckle-equipped straps 14 are passed and around the gunwale rods 17 to detachably and removably secure the cover and gunwale rods to the transverse ribs 2. Reinforcing strips 24 are sewed, or otherwise secured, to the cover 1, under the curved ends of the keel 1, where the greatest wear comes on said cover.

From the foregoing description it is evident that the improved knock-down boat may be very quickly set up or taken apart "and [closely packed in a comparatively small bundle so that the same may be easily carried or stored. The longitudinal ribs of bamboo afford a very rigid and strong structure, at the same time being very light and, owing to their cellular form, afford a multiplicity of air cells which will keep the boat afloat even if the same is filled with water.

What I claim is:

1. A knock-down boat, including a rigid keel, rigid transverse ribs, detachably secured to said keel, and flexible longitudinal ribs, detachably secured to said transverse ribs with freedom for endwise sliding movement thereon, alternate pairs of said longitudinal ribs being detachably anchored to opposite end portions of said keel, the anchored ends of said pairs of longitudinal ribs being spaced one in advance of the other toward the respective ends of said keel, each pair of said longitudinal ribs being located one on each side of said keel.

2. A knock-down boat, including a rigid keel, rigid transverse ribs secured to said keel, longitudinal ribs, tie straps holding said longitudinal ribs laterally spaced, and means for securing said tie straps over said transverse ribs, the ends of said longitudinal ribs being anchored to said keel.

3. A knock-down boat, including a rigid keel, rigid transverse ribs detachably secured to said keel, flexible longitudinal ribs, tie straps holding said longitudinal ribs laterally spaced with freedom for endvvise sliding movement, said longitudinal ribs being progressively longer from the keel out- Ward, and means for detachably securing said tie straps over said transverse ribs, the ends of said longitudinal ribs being detachably anchored to said keel.

A. A knock-down boat, including a rigid keel, rigid transverse ribs detachably secured to said keel, flexible longitudinal ribs, tie straps holding said longitudinal ribs laterally spaced with freedom for endwise sliding movement, said longitudinal ribs being progressively longer from the keel out- Ward, and means for detachably securing said tie straps over said transverse ribs, alternate pairs of said longitudinal ribs be ing detachably anchored to opposite end portions of said keel, the anchored ends of said pairs of longitudinal ribs being spaced one in advance of the other toward the respective end of said keel, each pair of said longitudinal ribs being located one on each side of said keel.

5. A knock-down boat, including a pair of transverse ribs, and longitudinal ribs, secured thereto, opposite ends of alternate longitudinal ribs being extended outward of the transverse ribs and attached to opposite ends of the boat, the other ends of all of the longitudinal ribs being overlapped between the transverse ribs and secured thereto.

. posite ends of the boat, leaving the other ends of all of the longitudinal ribs overlapped between the two transverse ribs and secured thereto.

7. A knock-down boat, including a pair of transverse ribs, and longitudinal ribs, secured thereto, with freedom for endwise sliding movement, opposite ends of alternate longitudinal ribs arranged to be moved in opposite directions and attached to opposite ends of the boat, leaving the other ends of all of the longitudinal ribs overlapped between the two transverse ribs and secured thereto, said longitudinal ribs 011 each side of the keel of the boat being progressively longer outward therefrom.

8. A knock-down boat including a keel, bottom boards, and transverse ribs, said bottom boards having detachable interlocking engagement With said keel, and means for detachably securing said ribs to the bottom boards for holding the keel, bottom boards and transverse ribs assembled.

9. A knock-down boat including a sectional keel, bottom boards, and transverse ribs, said bottom boards having detachable interlocking engagement with said keel, and means for detachably securing said ribs to the bottom boards for holding the sections of the keel, bottom boards and transverse ribs assembled.

10. A knock-down boat, including a sectional keel, channel pieces rigidly secured to opposite sides of said keel, on either side of its joint, bottom boards detachably seated in said channel pieces, and means for detachably securing said bottom boards in said channel pieces.

11. A knock-down boat, including a sectional keel, channel pieces rigidly secured to opposite sides of said keel, on either side of its joint, transverse ribs, bottom boards detachably seated in said channel pieces, and nut-equipped bolts passed through said transverse ribs and bottom boards for holding said keel, ribs and bottom boards assembled.

12. A knock-down boat, including a cover, said cover having at one end a pocket to receive one end of the keel of said boat, an adjusting device for securing the other end of said cover to the other end of said keel, and means for detachably securing the longitudinal edges of said cover to the ribs of said boat.

18. A knock-down boat, including a cover, having a hemmed edge, flexible, sectional gunwale rods seated in the hem of said cover, In testimony whereof I afiix my signature said cover having a pocket at one end to rein presence of tWo Witnesses. ceive one end of the keel of said boat, an adjusting device for securing the other end of THOMAS MCDERMOTT' said cover to the other end of said keel, and \Vitnesses:

means for detachably securing said gunwale EVA E. KNIG,

rods to the ribs of said boat. HARRY D. KILGORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latentl, Washington, D. G. 

